spsetup.exe

Search Protect

Conduit Ltd.

The file belongs to the Conduit API platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and web browser extensions. The application spsetup.exe, “Search Protect by Conduit” by Conduit has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 12 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Conduit Setup Manager installer. It is also typically executed from an Internet Explorer cache folder. The file has been seen being downloaded from sp-storage.conduit-services.com. While running, it connects to the Internet address cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com on port 80 using the HTTP protocol.
Publisher:
Conduit  (signed by Conduit Ltd.)

Product:
Search Protect

Description:
Search Protect by Conduit

Version:
2.8.12.1

MD5:
8ec514e46705b681317f6e7e8ec560b2

SHA-1:
5bcf9bd05c2cdd6205c6a6fd07406b84adb3aaba

SHA-256:
1790d3509590db4897f29705c243c4d970b5f5e92368915837ddd457c3e68aca

Scanner detections:
12 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles the Conduit Toolbar and/or Conduit Search Protect.

Description:
This is an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
4/16/2024 7:11:09 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

avast!
Win32:PUP-gen [PUP]
2014.9-140727

Bkav FE
W32.Clod710.Trojan
1.3.0.4613

Dr.Web
Adware.Conduit.6
9.0.1.0208

ESET NOD32
Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect (variant)
8.9494

G Data
Win32.Trojan.Agent.X25EJ0
14.7.22

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Conduit.A
v2014.07.27.08

McAfee
Artemis!BBDB342CCDEA
5600.7056

Panda Antivirus
Adware/Conduit
14.07.27.08

Reason Heuristics
PUP.SearchProtect.Conduit.H
14.8.7.22

SUPERAntiSpyware
Trojan.Agent/Gen-Nullo[Short]
10435

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V1114
7.2.208

VIPRE Antivirus
Conduit
25354

File size:
5.3 MB (5,595,032 bytes)

Product version:
2.8.12.1

Copyright:
2012 (c) Conduit. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
SearchProtect (R)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Conduit Setup Manager (using Nullsoft Install System)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\spsetup.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/2/2013 6:00:00 PM

Valid to:
4/3/2016 6:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Conduit Ltd., OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Conduit Ltd., L=Ness Ziona, S=Israel, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)10, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
3A82654719D8F75B59134F7B66465210

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
7/6/2011 9:31:20 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
98304:Mg2nmmW5mN95HvJIYF6iVWmRJrLx7UYkDKmnxyxUxtAmrgxiSuREprlh4Mv:MbWu95HvXRHgnxbtAmg7Jhhv

Entry address:
0x354B

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, D8, 84, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B8, 80, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, B0, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 98, 06, 47, 00, E8, 67, 27, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, B0, 05, 47, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 1C, 86, 40, 00, FF, 15, 80, 81, 40, 00, 68, 04, 86, 40, 00, 68, A0, 85, 46, 00, E8, 35, 26, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 80, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, 10, 4C, 00, 57, E8, 23, 26, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9898

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
25 KB (25,600 bytes)

The file spsetup.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):

 
http://offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com/DecisionEngine.ashx

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (54.243.251.51:80)

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